Air guide device



Nov. 8, 1960 M. M. @RACER 2,959,195

AIR GUIDE DEVICE Filed oct. 10. 1957 5 sheetsmsheet 1 FIGJ up MTV l--lesl t.

INVENTOR MARTIN M. GRACER Nov. 8, 1960 M. M. GRACER 2,959,195

AIR GUIDE: DEVICE Filed oct. 1o, 1957 s sheets-sheet 2 FIG.3

Nov. 8, 196 M. M. @RACER 2,959,195

AIR GUIDE DEVICE Filed 001:. 10. 1957 25 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGJO INVENTORMARTIN M. GRACER By? www? @ATTORNEY United States :Patent fi Am GUIDEDEVICE Martin M. Gracer, I-.evittown,N.Y. (71 Laurel Drive, MassapequaPark, N.Y.)

Filed oct. 1o, 1951, ser. No. '689,425 s claims. (ci. 13s-39)V Thisinvention relates to duct constructions of heating, Ventilating and airconditioning systems and more particularly to a duct construction havingparticular utility in providing eicient air passage through elbows andturns found in duct systems. Y

This application is a continuation-in-part `of my application Serial No.363,640, iiled June 23, 1953, entitled Air Guide Device, now Patent No.2,861,597.

.. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a novel airturning device and to-a novel blade or vane supporting plate or railtherefor.

It is well known in the 'art to provide in branches, particularly atsharp corners or bends of a duct assembly, a series of vanes or bladesof a curvature to guide air or the like efficiently around such cornersor bends. In the early development of these devices, they were factorymade and frequently comprised a pair of spaced parallelv upper and lowersupport plates or rails connected by a ser-.ies of `spaced blades, theends of which were welded or brazed, or fastened by expensive means toboth the said supporting rails.

While the above structure possessed the desired rigidity, the widevariety of duct sizes and angular bends which were required resulted indevelopment by me of turning vane units which could be cut to size andassembled on the job, and which were adaptable to be used in al widevariety of air turning situations which the installing worker mayencounter.

While I have provided air turning assemblies and subassemblies havingthe requisite adaptability, the structural rigidity and aerodynamiceiciency of such assemblies have, in general, been found to lack some ofthe features of assembled units which are brazed or soldered ICC novelmeans for temporarily maintaining the blades or rails in predeterminedmounted position prior to permanent fastening, thereby facilitating thefastening operation and also permitting trial and error testingof bladealignment, to determine optimum blade placement for the installation tobe made.

turning device, ,parts being broken away to show details;

together.- Particularly, such assemblies have, under conditions ofunworkmanlike assembly, developed whistles, rattles, noises and otherlike objectionable characteristics indicating, in addition, a loss inair turning eliciency as well as an inadequate rigidity.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an eliicient,easy to assemble air turning unit capable of being adapted to a widevariety of ducting situations and which, even in prolonged use, is freefrom objectionable noises, rattles, whistles and other defects.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved blade or vanesupporting plate or rail with the advantages aforesaid, and which isadapted to employ blades which may be made on the job of readilyavailable sheeted metal stock. Still a further object of this inventionis to provide ya rail of the type and for the purposes described whichis adaptable, without alteration, to be used in connection with bladesof double wall construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rail of the typedescribed which acts as a guide for proper mounting of the blades andpermits speedy and secure blade mounting to be accomplished through theuse of simple tools. Still a further object of this invention is toprovide a rail of the type described which includes Figure 2 is amagnified plan view of the inner rail blade illustrating the position ofa double wall blade;

Figure 3 is a magnified plan view of the outer portion of an air turningassembly;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure -3 with theaddition of a chisel in blade crimping position;

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a typical ductingsystem, illustrating the use of an air turning assembly;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of my invention during vastage of assembly;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of my invention during astage of assembly;

Figure 10 is a magnified fragmentary section taken on the line 10-10 ofFigure 9 with the addition of a chisel in blade crimping position.

Reference is now made to the Vdrawings forming a part hereof wherein, inaccordance with one form of this invention, a pair of blade rails 10--10serves as the medium for supporting the blades B Awith their ends inbuttjoint contact by the formation of a joint positioned to hold theblade in predetermined arcuate position.

The rail 10 isA a strip of sheet metal initially stamped or otherwiseshaped to raise on the inner face repeats of spaced, identicallyprojecting portions, identified generally as 11. The projecting portions11 comprise specitically the raised, crescent-shaped lead portion 12,trailing portion 13, and the inner face portion 14. The raised, angularside portions 15, 15 deepen, gradually defining at points of maximumdepth a pair of protuberances 16, 16. The walls 17, 17 surrounding theprotuberances 16, 16 are graded or tapered so as to present astreamlined surface to streams of air flowing from any direction.

The walls 17, 17 adjacent the protuberances 16, 16 terminate in theparallel fold lines 18, 18, thereby defining on the face opposed to theraised faces, a pair of downwardly depending guide channels 19, 19 (seeFigure 3).

Across each protuberance 16 is formed a guide slot 20, each such slotlying approximately normal to the fold lines 18, 18 and thus beingangularly directed relative to the margins of the sheet 10. The slots 20are preferably tapered to have a wide entrance or mouth portion -21 atthe lowermost portion of the protuberance 16, tapering to a constrictedthroat or edge portion 22 adjacent the face of the rail 10. The slots 20additionally include opposed, deformable tabs or lips 23 and 24 forpurposes to be described. These tabs or lips may be serrations 23', 24'as shown in Figure 2.

Through the use of the-vane rail above described, fabrication of an airturning assembly is a simple matter. Two identical lengths of rail 10,each suicient to span the bend or elbow, are provided with shaped endcuts C, C', to match the angular or mitred configurations of the elbow,as is well known.

Blades B, which may optionally be formed of rectangles of sheeted metal,are cut to the length desired and areY Patented lflov.y 8, A19.60

assenso arched orV bowed or rolled to assume the correctlyl outlinedcurvature by manually pressing portions of the longitudinal blade edgesinto the angularly disposed slots 20. The blades VBwilli be" retainedwithirnthe sl'otsf Ztl through. thefwedging actioniof thezlugsfZS,24against the side walls offtllreblades,- and byrthe taperedfnature 'ofthev .slots 20 to thereby-f also accommodate the. slots: tometal ofdifferent. thickness.

With the blades thus positioned, the t'oprail 10 may be'k similarlymounted with itsl slots' 20I encompassingthe th'eretofore` free edgesofthe blade B`. The thus assembled structure will be frictionallyv'retained inposition with' sufficient rigidity to permit experimental`adjust-ment'fof blade extension to eitherside ofthe railfand theflike byactual-introduction into-thel elbow, prior to permanently joining theblad'es By to therails 10.v

Withcorrect bl'ad'cf positioningthus assured,v the` air turni-ngz.device may be permanently assembled, such assembly being accomplished bythe crimping ortur'ning over'of the `intersectingportions` 25 oftheblades Br which extend-through the `slots 20 ofthe yinwardly extendingprotuberances 16'l andproject from the outer faces of they rails (seeFigures 3, 5, 7', 8, 9, 10).

While the blades` may be locked to the rail 10 by splitting theextending blade portion within the socket formed by the'protubera'nce,ascwill be described in detail in connection with Figures 9vv and 10,the rail' assembly includes a novelaguide' structure to` facilitate thecrimping operation while assuring the intimate blade rail contactnecessary for eiicient, noiseless` operation.

With the portion 250i?v the blade B extending through slot 20,'al chiselTv is inserted and directed along and within the guidel channel 19,withl the working edge 26' thereof against the extending portion 25 anda bevel 27p lying adjacent the guide 19 of the" rail 10.` When the thuspositioned chiselj is-st`ruck', the portion 25 is'tumed from thepositionshow-n in d'otte'cl'lines to the position shown inlsolid lines(lowerrail, seeFigur'e 5l) and atf the saine time; a downwardangul'arcornponenttending-to seat and draw the blade Bedge-tightlyagainst the rail 10 is developedA bythe contact ofthe bevel27p ofthe chisel T with the guide 19. The guide 19 likewise assurescorrect positioning of the chisel T against the projecting portion 25,thereby causing crimping and forming in the direction of optimum holdingpower against the wall 1612.

It will be readily recognized that the guides 19 may serve also todirect a peening hammer P against the projections 25, to secure atighttit between the blades B and the rails (seef Figures 7 and 8'). When thehammer P is swung'approximately in the -direction of the arrow (seeFigure 7*), the angularly disposed guide 19 will insure that the hammerstrikes the portion 25 normal to the slot 20, therebyV forming a vanetorail connection for optimum strength. As may beseen from Figure 8,thedownwardly inclined nature of the guide 19 will` permit the hammer tostrike the portion 25 simultaneously with the guide 19, thereby tendingto seat the blade more intimately against the rail as-the portion 25 isturned from the upright position (Figure-8- in'dotted lines) totheturned or locking position adjacent'the wall 16b.

Afm-ther method of locking the blades B within the slots20`isill'ustrated in Figures 9 and 10 where a chisel T is placed againstthe projecting portion 25 of the blade B, with the working edge 26 ofthe chisel arranged to lie substantiallyV normal to the edge of the rail10. When the thus positioned chisel is struck a sharp blow, the portion25 will be divided into two tabs, 25h, 25p, which tabs will ,be folded'vby the bevels 27p of the chisel from the partially spread' position(Figure 10, dottedV lines) to the' anchored' position (solid lines),where they will lie entirely within the protuberances 16, with one orthe other of -the tabs 25p, ZSbadjaCent-the wall 16b.

It has been determined that imperfections in the buttjoint' vanebladefjunction,` such as' slight spaces between the said parts-or barredlateral bladel edges; can cause n`` and inefficiencies inoperation'caused by undue exposure or gaps of the saidfjllnctions to.-direet air flow.

While my device has primary utility in connection with blades orvanesYoftt-hesingle wall-type', .it will be understood thatallthe'advantages aforesaid also pertain when a double wallblade.y Bfisernployed. In the latter case, the shielding and noise minimizingaction as aforesaid is provided for thefrear'wally of the double bladeby the ridges 12 and 13.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a portion of a typical ducting systemincluding air turning devices variously disposed to performfsev'e'ra-lair"tu'rn`ing applications. The

taperedI wall constrnction'ofl the'protuberances I6 assures?` minimumresistance" to air ow and more etiiclentran'f` turning deflection, andconsequent increases in eiiciencyil over other known air turningydevices, as well asA servingf tov rigidity therails against vibrationunder the influence of air ow.

Likewise, great economies are effected by' the simplicity'-lofconstruction and assembly' of l mydevice', without any correspondingsacrificel of quality, the above advantagesf` being retained in a unitsuitable for userin -a-wide variety-v of' air turning applications;

Having thus described my inventiony and'illustrated-itsr* use, what I'claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersl Patent'is l 1. A railadaptedtobe vjoined bycrimping to air turn ing blade members to form anair guide, comprising sheeted metal shaped to provide' on one face" aAplurality? of; spaced-apart, inwardly extending protuberances, said;protuberances having opposed wallsv detining slots having?` extendededges defining tabs spaced from theffedgesfofi said slots, therebyto.-provide a ytemporary' frictional `anchoragel for said blade membersprior to crimping, said protuberances defining on the other facedepending guide' channels directed substantially normally to said slotsvwhereby a' tool may be readily' ailg'ned` and guided into blade crimpingposition against a portion of said blades projecting through said slots.

2. A rail in accordance with claim 1" wherein said extended edges areserrated.`

3. A rail infaccordance with claim -2 whereinl the-walls definingy saidslots are taperedfto constricted throat por`V tions adjacent said rails,said -edgesand throat portions forminga two point'suspension forfrictionally anchoring said blades within said slots prior to crimping.

4. A device in accordancefwith claim l wherein said guide channel isinwardly directed at ananglehaving` a'- downward angular component alongsaid rail calculated" toldivide-.thethrust of a chisel struck whenresting against aprojecting portion of a blade and said guiderchannelinto componentsV comprising a' blade crimping component and-a bladeseating component, said last namedv component operatingtoy draw said'-bladetightly againstsa'idrail assaid first componentcrmps said blade.-

5. In. a rail adapted to maintain a plurality of arcuate" arcuate bladessuspended between parallel upper and lower sheeted metal rails andforming butt-joint junctions with each of said rails, said railsincluding ridge means arranged to be proximately spaced from said junc-A`tions and to follow generally said arcuate contours, thereby shieldingsaid junctions from direct aerodynamic ow and minimizing aerodynamicdisturbances, such as whistling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gordonet al. Aug. 8, 1899 Speiser Mar. 11, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES

